The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-30
PLAGUE CHOLERA.
How the Dread Disease has Penetrated America
Several Times.

ASldUlC CnOleTd IL I'LL epIlciiic uio'
ease OF great virulence. It has been
known from very remote period,
and has visited at one time or anoth-
err almost every country on the globe.
The first account published in detail
was in the first part OF the sixteenth
century. The disease seems to have
prevailed first in India, and the vari-
Gus epidemics in othes countries can
be traced as having been brought rom
that country. The invasion OF India
by the Portuguese and atterward by
the English during the sixteenth CEN
fury served to introduce the disease
into Europe. 1t again was
brought into Europe during the
eighteenth and the early part OF the
nineteenth century by the English in.
vasion OF India. In 1S32it again pre-.
vailed in Europe, and 100, 900 people
died from 1t during that year. 1t first
appeared in America during that
year 1892 and was brought here bya
French emigrant ship. which disem-
barked along the st. Lawrence river
and spread the disease to the various
towns along the river and the great
lakes as far as Fort Dearborn, near
where Chicago now is. From thence
it spread as far as the Mississippi. In
the same year another ship broughti it
to New York, and from thence it
spread southwark along the coast to
the gulf, and westward into the inte'
rior, along the course OF the great high
ways OF travel.
1t first appeared in Pittsburgh in
1888. 1t next appeared in lS45, and
again in 1853. In 1865 it occurred
again, but had limited extent. and its
last appearance was in 1878, akyhich
time it did not prevail to any extent.
All the cases that have ever prevail
ed can be traced to pre-existinc cases
OF cholera, proving that it does not
arise spontaneously, but is always
caused by pre-existing cases. This is
almost absolutely proved, and teaches
lesson with regard to prevention OF
the disease. What the specific conta-
gious material is that causes cholera
is subject yet o. much investigation
and dispute. The investigations OF
Koch, OF recent years, would seem to
point toward micro organism as the
cause, an organism called the comma
bacillus. Yet this is not absolutely
proved, and in fact there are some
grave objections to the theory. This
organism is found in great numbers in
the intestinal canal OF cholera pa
tients, and it is not found in patients
suffering from any otherdisease. Yet
these germs, when dried, die in very
short time.
Now it has been proved that the
contagion OF cholera has been carried
long distances and for SPACES OF time
II dry clothing and other manners.
Koch's theory, consequently, is not
universally accepted. Some think
the disease is due to chemical COM
pound, which Is unstable. Cholera
prevails during warm weather, and is
most fatal in tropical climates. Cold
weather is almost sure to stop an cpl
demic: 1t undoubtedly effects its en-
trance into the system through the ali
mentary canal-that is, stomach and
,intestines-and does not enter through
the lungs, in all probability. Yet in
effect it is much the same, as the con-
tagous material often disseminated
by the atmosphere may lodge in the
mouth, and, being swallowed, cause
the disease. Its origin can often be
traced also to water into which some
OF the excre tum of cholera patients
has gained access.
Nha 81
sequently limits itself down to destruc-
ton OF the morbid product which pro-
duces it, and isolation of those affect
ed with the disease TO prevent it's
spreading destruction OF every
thing about these patients calculated
to retain the poison. The best meth
cd OF doing this is by fire and disinfect-
ants.
We think that not only should the
clothing be burned, but also the bod
les OF those who die OF the disease
The safety OF the community at large
depends upon the thoroughness with
which this is done. Isolation of the
patients and prevention OF the posi-
bility OF carrying the disease by a
strict quarantine, both at seaport
and inland should be urged. The OBJ
lection to quarantine is found in it's
interference with commerce, but the
interference, as a rule, affects only %
minority OF people, and the rule that
few should suffer for the benefit OF the
many should be applied here. Expe-
rience, the great educator, has taught
that the safety oil the masses depends
upon the efficiency OF the quarantine.
The symptoms OF the disease are
too well known to need repetition.
During the first part of an epidemic